Signal device

ABSTRACT

A signal device to be mounted on top of a mailbox, the device comprising base means, biasing means, a signal element, linkage means, and an anchor; whereby when the lid is opened, the preplaced anchor is released allowing the depressed signal element to spring to an upright position, thus indicating to a distant observer that the mailbox has been opened.

United States Patent 55 new 22 BB 6 1 1 "um m mu m m VC f fla mo eic reHWFSGG 783890 445667 999999 111111 4726 1 1 303 33 240648 ,33 836 2623398 222333 4 l 1 8 6 r b e N 8 m 0 m 0 e e Mn 9 F fim no m MA I d m ae Wwe m flm l AFP .1 1.1.1 2 7 224 Primary Examiner- Louis J. CapoziAttorney-Henderson & Strom [54] SIGNAL DEVICE 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[51] Int. ABSTRACT: A Signal device to be mounted on top f a i Field of116/132,

box, the device comprising base means, biasing means, a

173, 232/34, 35; 24*8/40 signal element, linkage means, and an anchor;whereby when Reknnca Cm the lid IS opened, the preplaced anchor 15released allowing the UNITED STATES PATENTS depressed signal element tospring to an upright position, thus indicating to a distant observerthat the mailbox has been opened.

SIGNAL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The delivery of mail in ruralareas is effected by the transfer from a vehicle to a mailbox that isconveniently placed at the side of the road. Because of the typicallylarger areas involved in rural homesteads, the house is often placed agood distance from the road, and thus one desiring to find out whetheror not mail has been delivered must travel a considerable distance,often to find an empty mailbox. This problem was early recognized andmany ingenious devices have since been produced to alleviate theproblem.

Many rural mailboxes have flag devices pivotally connected thereto, butthey require the manual movement thereof by the owner to notify the mailcarrier that the box contains something requiring his attention;furthermore, these flags are not generally used to notify the owner thatmail has been left. Any signal device which requires the carrier toaccomplish a particular action will not always be effective because ofthe tremendous workload placed on the carrier. Some devices have beensophisticated mechanisms and others have been devices combined to form aproduct having particular aesthetic qualities; however, the mostpractical and dependable signal devices have been those which are simplein construction and operation. The subject invention was designed withthese qualities in mind, and its construction features simplicity ofmanufacture, installation and operation, as well as durability andefficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is a signaling device for amailbox and in particular for a standard U.S. mailbox typically used inrural areas, which signaling device indicates to a distant observerwhether or not the mailbox has been opened.

It is an object of this invention to provide a base means to be securedto the top of a mailbox.

Another object of this invention is the provision for an upstandingbiasing means that is tensilely depressible downwardly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a signal element thatcan be seen from a distance.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision for linkage tolead from the signal element to the inside of the mailbox.

Still another object of this invention is the provision for releasablyanchoring the linkage inside the mailbox by closing the lid.

A further object of this invention is the provision for a signal devicethat will indicate to a distant observer when a mailbox has been opened.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision for an effectivesignal device for a mailbox that is simple in construction andoperation.

The objects and other features and advantages become more readilyapparent upon reference to the following description when taken inconjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theinstalled device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded enlarged front elevational view of the installeddevice;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device in its cocked position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial front elevational view of a modified embodiment ofthe base element of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 inDESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1 shows the signal device 10 as it is used in combination with astandard U.S. mailbox 11, having a lid 12 which hingedly opensdownwardly.

The signal device 10 (FIG. 2) includes an inverted T-shaped base element13 of light metal or hard plastic, having a crossmember 14 which issecured to the top surface of a mailbox 11. The crossmember 14 of theT-shaped element 13 is disposed longitudinally along the box 11. Themethod of securing, disclosed in FIG. 1, employs two bolts 16 insertedin the crossmember 14 through holes 18 drilled in the upper surface ofthe mailbox and fastened by nuts 17 on the inside surface of themailbox, gaskets 19 being provided between the surface of thecrossmember l4 and the surface of the mailbox 11 to prevent leakage.Other methods that may be employed in securing the base element 13 tothe box 11 include, but are not limited to, gluing or banding. .Twosmall bosses 15 are disposed on the upper surface of the crossmember 14for securing purposes. Thus, if it is desired to band the element 13 tothe box, bands or rope can be wrapped around the box 11 and crossmember14 with the bosses l5 securing the band to the crossmember.

Disposed on the upstanding portion of the base 13 (FIG. 2) is aclose-wound helical spring 21 having an inside diameter (FIG. 4) suchthat it closely fits over the base upstanding portion and extendsupwardly therebeyond.

Secured to the upper end of the spring 21 (FIG. 2) is athree-dimensional figurine or the like which comprises the signalelement 22. Its composition may be of any material such as plastic orthe like. Projecting from the lower end of the signal element 22 is anelongated cylindrical leg 23 which closely fits into the upper end ofthe spring 21, but does not extend into the spring 21 to the point whereit would contact the base 13.

A linkage chain 24 (FIG. 2) or the like is secured on one end to thesignal element 22 and on the other end to an anchor 26 such as a sphereof rubber, plastic or the like. The length of the chain 24 is such that,when the anchor 26 is placed just inside the mailbox opening 27,directly under the upper wall of the mailbox, the spring 21 is tensilelystressed and the upstanding signal element is displaced to asubstantially horizontal position. Either the signal element 22 or theanchor 26 may be coated with a fluorescent paint or the like, thusmaking it easier to see from a distance.

In operation, the lid 12 (FIG. 1) is opened, the anchor is inserted intothe mailbox opening 27 and the lid is closed.(FIG. 3), thus cooking thesignal element 22 to a substantially horizontal position. Upon deliveryof the mail, the lid 12 is opened, releasing the anchor 26, which allowsthe signal element 22 to spring to the upright position so as to givenotice to a distant observer that the mail has been delivered. When thebox 11 is opened to remove the mail, the anchor 26 is again inserted andthe signal element is again ready for operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a modified embodiment of the baseelement 31 is depicted. The base element comprises a pair ofspaced-apart upright members 32 each integral with a C-shaped clamp 33disposed on the bottom end thereof to one of the open ends of the clamp.The upright member has aligned openings formed therethrough forreceiving the shaft of a threaded bolt 34 wherein, upon aligning theopenings, the bolt can be inserted therethrough. A nut 36 is threadablymounted on the bolt in a conventional manner. One end of an elongatedcylindrical post 37 is mounted between the upright members with the freeend thereof projecting upwardly and adapted to receive the one end ofthe spring 21 (FIG. 2).

A conventional mailbox has a locking member 38 (FIGS. 1 and 3) securedto the upper surface thereof and adapted to engage the top edge of thedoor 12 for holding it in a closed position. The opposed C-shaped clampsare adapted to fit over the edges of the locking members and, uponfastening the nut 36 to the bolt 34 and drawing it tight thereon, theC-clamps effectively lock the base element 31 to the locking member andto the post 37.

I claim:

1. A signal device to be used in conjunction with a mailbox having alid, the device comprising:

base means secured to the exterior upper wall of a mailbox;

biasing means secured on one end thereof to said base means and having afree end projecting substantially upwardly therefrom;

a signal element secured to said biasing means free end;

linkage means of predetermined length secured on one end thereof to saidsignal element; and

anchor means secured to the other end of said linkage means; wherebywhen said anchor means is inserted into the mailbox and the lid isclosed thereon, said biasing means allows the signal element to bedisplaced downwardly; and when the lid is opened and the anchor isreleased, said biasing means causes said signal element to return to itsupward position.

2. A signal device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base meansincludes a crossmember adapted to be secured to the mailbox and anupstanding member integral with said crossmember and adapted to receivesaid biasing means one end.

3. A signal device as defined in claim 2 wherein said biasing means is ahelical spring which interconnects said upstanding member and saidsignal element.

4. A signal device as defined in claim 3 wherein said linkage means is achain.

5. A signal device as defined in claim 4 wherein said signal element isat least partially coated with a fluorescent material.

6. A signal device as defined in claim 4 wherein said anchor means isspherical and at least partially coated with a fluorescent material.

7. A signal device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base means isadapted to be secured to the locking member of the mailbox, said basemeans including a pair of spaced-apart C- shaped members, a pair ofupright members each integral with one of said C-shaped members, and aholding element for securing said C-shaped members to the locking memberand to secure said biasing means one end between said upright members.

8. A signal device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base means isadapted to be secured to the locking member, a pair of spaced-apartC-shaped members, a pair of upright members each integral with one ofsaid C-shaped members, and a holding element for securing said C-shapedmembers to the locking member and to secure one end of said upstandingmember between said upright members, said upstanding member other endadapted to receive said biasing means one end.

1. A signal device to be used in conjunction with a mailbox having alid, the device comprising: base means secured to the exterior upperwall of a mailbox; biasing means secured on one end thereof to said basemeans and having a free end projecting substantially upwardly therefrom;a signal element secured to said biasing means free end; linkage meansof predetermined length secured on one end thereof to said signalelement; and anchor means secured to the other end of said linkagemeans; whereby when said anchor means is inserted into the mailbox andthe lid is closed thereon, said biasing means allows the signal elementto be displaced downwardly; and when the lid is opened and the anchor isreleased, said biasing means causes said signal element to return to itsupward position.
 2. A signal device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidbase means includes a crossmember adapted to be secured to the mailboxand an upstanding member integral with said crossmember and adapted toreceive said biasing means one end.
 3. A signal device as defined inclaim 2 wherein said biasing means is a helical spring whichinterconnects said upstanding member and said signal element.
 4. Asignal device as defined in claim 3 wherein said linkage means is achain.
 5. A signal device as defined in claim 4 wherein said signalelement is at least partially coated with a fluorescent material.
 6. Asignal device as defined in claim 4 wherein said anchor means isspherical and at least partially coated with a fluorescent material. 7.A signal device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base means is adaptedto be secured to the locking member of the mailbox, said base meansincluding a pair of spaced-apart C-shaped members, a pair of uprightmembers each integral with one of said C-shaped members, and a holdingelement for securing said C-shaped members to the locking member and tosecure said biasing means one end between said upright members.
 8. Asignal device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base means is adaptedto be secured to the locking member, a pair of spaced-apart C-shapedmembers, a pair of upright members each integral with one of saidC-shaped members, and a holding element for securing said C-shapedmembers to the locking member and to secure one end of said upstandingmember between said upright members, said upstanding member other endadapted to receive said biasing means one end.